Ep 24 Fitting suspension on the Burley Tail Wagon dog trailer

This we week are looking at the Burley Tail Wagon dog trailer.
We had originally wanted to use the Burley coho xc single wheel cargo trailer as a dog trailer. Our reasoning was it was more stable than two wheels over rough terrain and would also allow us to go down narrower trail paths. Unfortunately our english pointer was not able to adapt to the single wheel trailer unlike our vizsla. If you have not seen the video then check it out • Ep 9 Burley coho xc si... .
Also check out the additional video where we were trying to get our English pointer used to the burley coho xc but where she managed to get out of the trailer whilst it was moving.
• Ep 9 Burley coho xc si...
Having looked at many dog bike trailers - very few if any were available with suspension. We definitely wanted suspension to hopefully prevent the trailer from tipping up. If you search on youtube there are many examples of two wheeled bike trailers that tip up even going over pot holes.
After much research we opted to put suspension onto a dog bike trailer, and in the end as the reviews of the Burley Tail wagon were very good and we were super impressed with the build and design of the Coho xc we purchased the Tail Wagon.
We sourced the suspension from • Ep 9 Burley coho xc si... but with hindsight maybe we should have purchased the croozer dog bike trailer.
Anyway this video shows the unboxing of the Burley Tail Wagon, the addition of the suspension and finally our outing in both trailers.

[@dawns4468]

Brilliant. EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you.

[@efxnoise]

I'm buying a Tail Wagon tomorrow so I'm very thankful for this video. Looking forward to seeing the suspension you add later (I'm only a few minutes in so far)

[@debgwilliam8756]

I have learned 2 things…. 1) there is a zero percent chance that my dog would put up with the single wheel trailer 2) I won’t be buying a trailer without suspension unless the surface my dog is sitting of has some sort of hammock suspension, perhaps. Very helpful thanks so much - you’ve already saved me hundreds of pounds!

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Definitely the single wheeled trailer is not for most dogs Adding the suspension makes a big difference Hope you manage to get out with your dog soon for adventures

[@johnfarnall6849]

Good job.

[@hello_bike]

Muchas gracias por este video. Me ha sido de mucha utilidad. Saludos!!!!

[@T_One_Racing]

We have tail wagon and the Coho. Going the opposite direction as you guys. Our tail wagon has been heavily modded to allow its continued use. First, the cheap/thin plastic floor gave way, then the QR axles on the trailer wheels was next to disintegrate, then the axle bolt on the bike sheared. All these things were overcome/fixed by a local machine shop and hardware store. I think the only thing left original is the frame and some of the covering. I really like that suspension you have on yours. Wish we knew about it in the beginning. Burley also makes 3" wheels that should help with smoothing out the bumps -you can run less air pressure in them. For us now though, gonna give the Coho a try to see if our dog will like that. There certainly is a market for a quality dog trailer that is meant to take some abuse/long term use. Burley's are nice but they are the equivalent to a Honda Civic going off-roading. It'll do it, but not for long. Thanks for sharing your videos and best of luck with your trailer and dog-ventures.

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Hi - we have since changed our minds as our Vizsla didn’t settle in the coho and she was unable/wouldn’t lie down at any point in time and after about 20 mins she was bored and moved/transferred her weight from one side to the other which means the bike would begin to wobble if you weren’t expecting it - which is fine out on bike trails but not when you’re still on roads. So for safety we’ve adapted another tail wagon with the suspension as it’s a bit more stable. The downside is it’s wide snd not suitable for some bike routes- it’s always a compromise. We also wish bike trailer manufacturers would provide a viable option as they are not always a cheap purchase Will have to keep an eye on the issues you’ve had with yours. Hope you find a solution- let us know

[@miriamlopez5202]

thank you! :)

[@debr628]

Thank you for this post! Suspension!? Who knew? lol ... my 11 year old Aussie has a knee injury and is really missing her walks ... I just purchased a Burley Tail Wagon for her and suspension will make for a more enjoyable ride

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Hope your Aussie has some new fabulous adventures in her tail wagon

[@gregoriomaya]

Thanks for the thorough review. I do wonder if you have documented the modifications you´ve fdone to the COHO trailer. I´m leaning towards that one but would love to see it a bit safer

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Hi, we’ve changed from the single wheel coho trailer as I had an injury and no longer felt in control of the single wheel Coho especially as the Vizsla becomes very excited after about half hour as that’s when she normally gets her walk so we now have 2 burley tail wagons with the suspension fitted which is much more stable (albeit the Vizsla is still excited after half hour 😂 but the trailer doesn’t cause the bike to wobble) and the mods with the suspension on both trailers have worked brilliantly for a long time now and definitely recommend suspension on any bike trailer. Sorry no documents but can say it is working well. Hope you enjoy whatever you decide works best for your adventures

[@Sherlock245]

Your video is an eye opener!!! I nearly had to go to hospital trying to fit the frame together it so darn hard. 😢😢😢😢😢. Is there a way to make it easier??? 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@jorgejorge5542]

Hi thanks for the video. Do you know if I could fit this suspension kit in a Pawhut dog trailer?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Hi there, not sure about the Pawhut trailer but we were not sure about the Burley either so we just sat down and brainstormed until we came up with a simple solution. The angle aluminium brackets as it’s cheap lightweight and easy to work with. I think you actually need the suspension kit in your hands to be able to think it through.

[@riclisano4835]

For the single wheel, one wheel in the rear will not be stable as the dog's movement as well as your movement will be very difficult to minimize. Suggest considering a two rear wheel setup with suspension... the wider, the more stable. Also, have you considered tire pressure as an addition to the suspension? That is a consideration for fat tire bikes, wide tread and lower pressure. With two tires in back of trailer as wide (let's say, 2"x2) will split weight and ability to lower pressure. Just thinking...

[@mees6438]

Hello where can i buy these fitting suspension for the burley tailwagon?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

We got ours from www.kidscab.be/en/croozer-accessories/1439-croozer-kid-1-2-suspension-from-2005-2015.html and manufactured the bracket but if they are in stock you could try www.dogycomponents.com/suspension/81-577-federung-economy-fuer-croozerxlc-by-croozer-.html#/26-suspension_color-red

[@bachbluten9062]

Hello you wonderfull two people! Thank you for this video. I’d like to mount suspensions myselfto my Burley. Could you please tell me wich one of the company doggy-suspensions you bought? The ome for the Croozer or Leggero? Is it possible to make a video of the making of this aluminum-part, you made? Thank you and best regards from Switzerland!

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Thank you. We used the croozer one but presume the other make could be made to fit. In respect of the aluminium bracket we made we simply purchased a 90 angle bracket from eBay and then used a multi tool to cut it down to size and angle the corner so that the spring fitted without being hindered and drilled the holes using normal drill with metal drill bit to coincide with the holes on the burley frame.

[@bachbluten9062]

@@Doggonemotorhomeadventures thank you very much!

[@spankydrummer7949]

Which model number of Dogy suspension did you use?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Croozer kid 1 and 2 2005-2015

[@hello_bike]

hello. I have bought the burley tail wagon and the suspension that you show in the video. I want to do the same installation for the suspension that you have done. I would be very grateful if you could share the measurements of the piece to anchor the suspension to the trailer, since I would order a blacksmith to manufacture that piece. Thank you so much. I mean when you measure each side of that piece of aluminum and how thick it is. Greetings. Thank you!!!

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

The aluminium bracket to anchor onto the trailer we cut to 14cm length by 5cm width with one corner removed in diagonal 90degrees

[@hello_bike]

@@Doggonemotorhomeadventures thank you so much for your help!!! Greetings!!!!

[@mlee6050]

Is there a version that allows brakes? I am thinking to make a four wheel trailer as be to carry my dog in future and as a camper for long journey but thinking to put brakes on so not rely fully on bike brakes to stop it all, also a hole to padlock the trailer brakes on for night

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

We are not sure if there are any brakes for trailers (it would be quite a complicated design I would think) and we have never heard of trailers with brakes that you can use whilst cycling (only trailers that we have seen with brakes are those that you manually put on at the back when parked up. We have been down some steep inclines and our bike brakes have always worked but we do make sure we are not going exceptionally fast to save them Sorry we can’t help you further but hopefully you will have great trips out with your dog

[@mlee6050]

@@Doggonemotorhomeadventures was mainly wondering as my trailer be heavier than the one you using and like limit how much push on bike, I have an engineering brain so basically always thinking of how to engineer different things like DIY an overrun brake Mainly as thinking for a trailer that dog can be in it on journey but if stop at night it has like a heater and stuff inside of it like if someone took a caravan but enough room for me and dog so like if still do my dream of cycle large distance can still look after the dog but have easy way to sleep at night than like put tent up each time Yeah be awesome in future, aiming for to make a machine first in hope I can earn money better so can easy afford get my first dog and enjoy trips and walks together, at moment I just get enough that might feed one but not much else, I miss dog walking from when I last did so I estimate in 2008

[@jsiedlecki5331]

Hi, I have just found your video. Great to know that we are not the only crazy dog people 😄🐶 We have a tail wagon. One of our dogs loves it and the other hates it and tries to break out at any opertunity. You have made me wonder if, like your dog, he may not like the bumps. I will definitely look into suspension. One of the problems we have with our tail wagon is lack of mudguards. The state of the whole set up and your dog has to be seen to believed, if you go for a ride on a wet and muddy trail. Have you experienced similar? Thanks again for the video. Great stuff. Happy travels. Wood woof🙂🐶

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Always mad about dogs 🐶 our pointer is definitely calmer in the trailer with the added suspension and hopefully she will continue this way as she is a nervous dog. Our bikes don’t have mud guards so that adds to the mud decoration on the trailer but think that having fitted the suspension which makes the wheels slightly away from the trailer may help reduce. But not sure there is a way to have zero mud - just look at it as adding to the adventures. The fabric does brush down well once the mud has dried. Enjoy your trails - both muddy and dry

[@orchidje812]

Could you share the link to the suspension?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Link for the suspension we used is www.dogycomponents.com/suspension/7-federung-economy-fuer-croozerxlc-by-croozer-.html

[@johnmckinley8447]

Ever thought of making and selling these kits

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

If we were 20 years younger I don’t know why the manufacturers do t offer upgrades etc seems like they are missing out

[@darjnz4406]

Why didn't you buy the kit made for the tail wagon?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

When buying it was not available- and still not able to purchase the burley tail wagon set for some reason

[@gabrielmuthfaknmahan]

What kit? I also have a tail wagon and had to mod it myself due to lack of upgrades available commercially.

[@Whats_noah_up_to]

Would this fit on the burley honey bee?

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

We’re not sure - we had to make a bracket for the suspension kit to fit the burley tail wagon without compromising the chassis of the trailer so presume it could be done for the honey bee but as we haven’t ever seen one etc we can’t say for sure

[@Sherlock245]

I know where to buy the kit ❤ would you like the link

[@michaelwoodruff2549]

Yes pls!

[@karlgreene2177]

My Burley Nomad can tip but you have to ride carelessly to make it happen.

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

We think suspension should be an option. We have been over some rough terrain with the trailers and the fitted suspension with no problems as of yet.

[@ronmagaw8175]

Wtf over nah ..but great idea do you sell this

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

Hi - no we don’t sell them

[@ronmagaw8175]

@@Doggonemotorhomeadventures love the idea of that how much to make me a set for the same exact trailer

[@michaelholland375]

Why make the unit so ridged they must know dogs don't like all that vibration

[@Doggonemotorhomeadventures]

We have no idea why suspension isn’t at the very least an option